The University of King’s College School of Journalism, Writing & Publishing invites applications for the Rogers Chair in Journalism, a full-time, three-year limited term appointment with potential for renewal for another three years, beginning January 1, 2026.
Established in 1789, King’s is Canada’s oldest chartered university and is closely associated with Dalhousie University. A small and extraordinarily lively academic community located in Halifax (Kjipuktuk), Nova Scotia, King’s is known nationally and internationally for its highly acclaimed interdisciplinary programs in the humanities, including its renowned Foundation Year Program, its professional programs in journalism, and its fine arts programs in creative writing. King’s is a community where students, faculty, alumni and staff work to bring greater understanding, creativity and compassion to the world.
The School of Journalism, Writing & Publishing is a leader in journalism education and is known for its combination of academic rigour and leading-edge skills instruction at its beautiful campus in the heart of Halifax. King’s offers two undergraduate degrees in journalism—the four-year Bachelor of Journalism Honours and the one-year Bachelor of Journalism. King’s also offers a Minor in Journalism Studies to students who are majoring in another program or discipline. King’s and Dalhousie jointly offer the two-year Master of Journalism, which educates leaders in the field and culminates with an enterprising or investigative journalism project that is suitable for national publication and is supervised by faculty and/or outside experts. The programs draw students from across Canada and abroad. The School of Journalism, Writing & Publishing enjoys a national reputation for excellence, with graduates working in news outlets across Canada and beyond, as well as in a wide variety of other fields including law, communications and education. Additionally, the school delivers the limited residency MFAs, in Creative Nonfiction and Fiction.
The Rogers Chair is a prestigious member of the teaching faculty of the Journalism programs. The ideal candidate will have at least five years of full-time experience in journalism. Experience in digital startups and other non-traditional news media will be an asset. We will also consider applications from candidates whose experience is primarily in journalism-adjacent media fields or in news media scholarship.
Knowledge of basic and advanced data journalism techniques will be a strong asset. Prior experience teaching at the post-secondary level will be an asset, as will experience taking photographs as part of a wider journalistic workflow. Candidates must have, at minimum, an undergraduate degree, and we welcome applications from those with advanced degrees.
The School recognizes it exists in Mi’kma’ki, the unceded territory of the Mi’kmaq, and that African Nova Scotians have a shared history going back more than 400 years in the part of Mi’kma’ki known as Nova Scotia. As well, the University is committed to equity, diversity, accessibility and inclusion. We encourage and welcome those who would contribute to the diversification of our staff and faculty including, but not limited to Indigenous persons (especially Mi’kmaq), persons with a disability, racialized persons, including persons of Black/African descent (especially African Nova Scotians), women, persons of a minority sexual orientation and/or gender identity, and all candidates who would contribute to the diversification of our community.
In line with the University’s commitments to EDAI, to the calls to action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, and to the Scarborough Charter on Anti-Black Racism and Black Inclusion in Canadian Higher Education, the ideal candidate for this position will be Mi’kmaw, First Nations, Inuk, Metis, African Nova Scotian or Black.
The School of Journalism, Writing & Publishing recognizes the importance of educating students to practise journalism, or work in related fields, with an awareness of the varied nature of society. We want instructors to bring their valuable perspectives, skills and expertise to the University.
King’s also provides tuition and fees for up to three Mi’kmaw students to the BJH, BJ and MJ each year as part of its Mi’kmaw Journalism Initiative. The BJH includes a mandatory course, normally taken in second year, that introduces students to key aspects of Indigenous cultures, legal frameworks, and the historical relationship between Indigenous nations and the state. These are needed for responsible reporting in Canada. The school also offers, on a semi-annual basis, an intensive field reporting course taught partially in a First Nation community that focuses on responsible reporting about Mi’kmaw and other Indigenous communities.
We also aim to strengthen our students’ ability to report effectively about African Nova Scotian and other traditionally underserved communities and the specific issues that affect them in Nova Scotia. In 2026, the school will begin to cover tuition for up to three African Nova Scotian students a year studying in the BJH, BJ and MJ programs, through the new African Nova Scotian Journalism Initiative. The school is developing a new course on reporting in Black communities, projected to begin in the fall of 2026, and encourages all faculty to include a diversity of perspectives and speakers in classes.
The successful candidate for this position will have the opportunity to help build on these efforts.
The School is currently redeveloping the curriculum of the four-year undergraduate program and aims to more explicitly support students who seek careers outside of journalism. The successful candidate will help implement the new program and will be expected to teach at the undergraduate level, and if in possession of a graduate degree, in the Master of Journalism program.
The successful candidate will also be expected to engage actively in research and/or professional activity directly relevant to the practice of journalism. They will possess a willingness to take on administrative duties at the program and faculty levels.
Candidates should submit applications addressed to the Director of Journalism, Fred Vallance-Jones, by Monday September 15, 2025, at 11:59 p.m., ADT. They are requested to send them via email to adminj@ukings.ca. Late applications will not be considered.
A candidate’s digital file will include a cover letter, complete CV, examples of professional work, a statement of teaching philosophy, evidence of teaching competence (such as copies of evaluation reports), at least two letters of reference attesting to the candidate’s suitability for the position, and any other materials that would shed light on their suitability. Ideally, the application materials will be contained in a single PDF file, beginning with the cover letter and CV.
Shortlisted candidates will be contacted by the second week of October and interviewed on campus.